Folding shipping-crate.



I. 0. ENGLE.

FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'I. 1914.y

1,138,696. Patented May 4, 1915.

4 A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

no fr- Z' WITNESSES Uf /62 INVENTOR Allomey`g` 1E NORRIS PETERS COA, FHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C. I

I. 0. ENGLE.

FOLDING SHIPPING-CHATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1914. 1,138,696.

Patnt-ed May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTULITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C

JAMES o; ENGLE, or RANsoi/i, KANSAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FOLDING sHIPriNG-CRATE.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application lediMayvlG, 1914. Serial No. 839,112.

T0 all 'whom it may concern: o s

Be it known that I, JAMES O. ENGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ransom, in thecounty of Ness andy State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Shipping- Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othei's skilled in the arty to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention refers to a shipping crate of the folding or collapsible type, as will be apparent from the following speciiication reference being had to they accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application in which,

Figure l is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 8 is an end elevation. Fig. lis a longitudinal section as indicated by dotted lines a-a Fig l. Fig. 5 is a transverse section as indicated by dotted lines b-b Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a folded crate. F ig. 7 is a plan view of the end grooved retaining members. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the center or partition, grooved retaining members, Fig. 9 is a cross section of Fig. 7

In the detailed description of my invention, numerals will be used to designate the various parts, the same numeral ,being used throughout the various views to indicate the same part.

My invention comprises a shipping crate,

the bodyv portion'l being rectangular in formv and of a size determined by the purpose for.

which it is required, a plurality of members 2 of uniform size are hingedly mounted on the upper side of the said body portion 1n a transverse position so that two of said members will serve as ends for the crate and the remainder as partitions, when the crate is folded these members lie flat on the body portion.

Along the sides of the body portion and extending upward at right angles thereto, narrow strips 3 of wood are fastened, the ends thereof being connected by strips of galvanized iron 4 the lower edge of'which is nailed to the end of the body portion.

Hingedly attached to the strips 3 are members 5, corresponding in length to that of the body portion and of a width determined by the width of the members 2, serving as sides for the crate.

Hingedly attached to each of the side members 5 and folding in the same direction is a member 6 corresponding in length to the side member to which it is attached, its width being determined by the length of the member 2 said member serving as part of the top or lid of the crate and extending to the center of said member 2 when it is in an upright position. Across the under side of the member 6 are carried metallic fastening members 7 having a groove of sufficient width to allow the top edge of the members 2 to enter therein its entire length, thus forming a stay and support for the said members 2 when in operative position and adding rigidity and stability to the crate when set up. Said fastening members are provided with flanges by which they are fastened in place.

The side member' and the top member 6 are made in duplicate a pair being required to form a complete crate. The two parts of themember G are provided with a hasp and staple for the purpose of fastening or locking the top or lid.

The fastening members carried by the top are formed by folding sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron, back upon itself to form two ribs extending parallel to each other, the space between the ribs constituting the groove.

The' inner flanges of the members 7 at the ends of the crates are provided with ears formed by slitting said inner iianges and bending the slit portions at right angles, said ears extending below and being secured to the side rails of the members 6 while the outer flanges extend in the same plane as the outside of the rib and are secured to the outer faces of the end rails of the members 6.

The fastening members used in connection with the partitions of the crate are formed similarly to those used on the ends, eX- cept that the ends of the flanges on both sides are slit and the slit portions extended at right angles to the plane of the ribs to ered With mesh Wire, and a small opening with a hinged closure is provided in the member 6 to permit ofthe removal of the contents of the crate while in a set up'condition, the closure or door being hinged toV a cross bar forming the walls of the opening, the opposite edge of the closure having a hasp hinged thereto, said hasp being employed for locking the door in closed posi-` tion and also for locking the two sections of the members 6 together thereby dispensing with an additional hasp for this purpose.

vTo collapse the crate the top members 6 are raised to a perpendicular position on the edge of the member 5 and then the members 2 arefolded down upon the member l, then the members 5.and 6 from one side of the cratek still in their extended position are folded down `upon the members 2 and then the members 5 and 6 from the opposite side of the crate are folded down upon the first pair of members 5 and 6 already folded down, thus forming a compact Vpackage for shipment which will occupy very much less space than when in a set up position, and

also providing a shipping crate that may be used for live poultry, etc., or for any class of merchandise Where it may be desired to preserve the cases for future shipments.

While I have described in the foregoing i specifications and illustrated in the accompaiiying drawings the preferred construction and combination of parts deemed necessary to materialize my invention, I desire it to be understood that I Wish to comprehend in this application all substantial equivalents and substitutes which may be considered as falling fairly within the scope of i vmy invention, I do not therefore Wish to be 1. In a shipping crate, a base member, side, end and partition members hinged thereto and adapted to fold down upon said base, a top member carrying a plurality of grooved members adapted vto receive tlie contiguous edges of the said end and parti-- tion walls and extending the full length of v said end and'partition walls, said grooved members each consisting of a piece of sheet anchoring iianges, the ends of said flanges having `ears formed integral therewith andextended at rightV angles thereto.

2. In ashipping crate, a body or base portion, side strips along the edges of said body metal bent upon itself to forma groove and portion, metallic strips along the ends of the body portion and secured to said side Y strips, side members hinged to vthe side strips, end and partition members hinged i to the body portion, said side, end and partition members being adapted to fold down on said body portion, a pair of top members hinged to said'side members, grooved members on the under faces of said top members adapted to receive the contiguous edgesA of said end and partition'vvalls, said groove members extending the full length of said end and partition Walls, doors hingedly secured to parts of said top members adapted to form closures for openings therein and hasps hingedly secured to said doors adapt- I ed to engage parts of thev top members and lock said topV members and doors lin closed position. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES O. ENGLE. Witnesses:

C. II. ADAIR, H. T. SWEAsY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, vby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0'. Y 

